19 Recipes You Have to Make for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for the fifth of May, is a date that is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862!

According to Wikipedia, Cinco de Mayo took on a significance in the United States beyond that in Mexico. The date is associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture and it does not signify Mexico’s Independence Day, as some may suggest. In fact, the holiday is virtually ignored in Mexico today, really only being celebrated in Puebla by military parades.

Taking Off in Popularity

In North America, the holiday didn’t gain national popularity until the mid-1980s when marketers, particularly beer companies, capitalized on the celebration and began to promote it as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage in the larger, more integrated, parts of the U.S. such as Los Angeles. Today, we celebrate the holiday with food, music, and specialty cocktails!

In celebration, straight from The Food Channel kitchens, and some of our favorite contributors, we’re here to help you craft your Cinco de Mayo fiesta! We have rounded up 19 of our favorite Cinco recipes and are excited to share our culturally-inspired food and cocktail recipes with all of you, our friends. ¡Viva México!

These “street” tacos are small, portable and handheld, with flavor influences from beer, orange juice, and fresh lime juice! Taco lovers often find their favorite tacos in trucks, now you can make them at home.

Pan sauces typically require wine to lift up the browned bits from pan-seared meats and vegetables. For a Cinco de Mayo twist, this recipe uses a dark beer, Negra Modelo, which works wonders with skirt steak.

Fish tacos are one thing, but when you beer batter and fry the tacos, the flavor is next-level! The fish taco craze has spread from Mexico to California, and across the U.S. It’s the perfect dish to serve!

This bright red Mexican-style cocktail has a spicy kick to it. To celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day, September 16th. Consider serving it alongside a shot of tequila and lime juice to mirror the colors of the Mexican flag!

A Mollete is a traditional sandwich of Mexico that is typically served open-faced. Made with common fridge-held items such as butter, refried beans, and a few types of gooey, melty cheeses, this sandwich is perfect when paired with a cold Mexican-style cocktail on Cinco de Mayo.

Kaitlan Foland

As Assistant Editor, Kaitlan creates a variety of content for The Food Channel. She oversees major topic research, using the website's proprietary consumer insights engine, CultureWaves. She also manages the sites international Guest Chef Network, as the Content Coordinator, working with and coaching contributors to achieve the best stories possible and oversees all Social Media platforms. When she's not cooking, gardening or outdoors, you'll find her taking care of her cat, Walter.